Supercharging device for oil pumps



FEM 4, 1936. Q. E SUPERCHARGING DEVICE FOR OIL PUMPS X 0 M WEJ 5 ME 0 AH 5 a 6% w MW. 5 MW% 5 4 ATTORNEY Feb, 4, 1936. c E, ox

SUPERCHARGING DEVICE FOR OIL PUMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7. v 95 a E 6 l55 5I 7 0 M? M ;v 7 .5 w v 6 3 V w E 7 q 2/20 2 1 6i 2;; T .5 d. Y W. 2 a a;M 5

i MW a 5 A E v u m a w 2% m T 5 Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Charles E. Fox, Bakersfield, Calif.

Application January 29, 1934, Serial No. 708,714

Claims.

My invention relates to fluid pumps, and particularly, although notnecessarily, to pumps as used in oil wells, of the reciprocating typewhich embody a working barrel, a hollow plunger reciprocable in thebarrel, a traveling valve on the plunger, and a standing valve below onthe plunger. Oil pumps of this type fail frequently to pump oil becausegas or air accumulates in the working barrel between the traveling andstanding valves producing such a degree of elasticity of the fluid as toprevent proper action of the valves and resulting in cessation of oilflow through the pump.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide an auxiliary pump, booster,or what may be more aptly termed, a supercharging device for use withoil pumps of the class above described, and wherein such devicefunctions automatically to maintain that space in the working barrel inthe pump between the traveling and standing valves, completely filledwith oil so that the possibility of gas or air accumulating in the pumpto prevent proper valve action, is entirely eliminated, and the pump, asa consequence, functions at all times to produce a continuous upwardflow of oil.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a supercharging devicefor oil pumps which eliminates the necessity for deep submersion of thelower end of the working barrel of the pump in order to attainsufficient hydrostatic pressure exteriorly of the working barrel toproperly fill the latter with the oil being pumped.

A further purpose of my invention is a provision of a superchargingdevice which functions to inject oil into the lower end of the workingbarrel of the pump without disturbing the sand in the bottom of the welland thereby avoiding pumping of such sand.

I will describe only one form of supercharging device embodying myinvention, and one form of reciprocating pump to which my device isattached, and will then point out the novel features of my invention inclaims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in vertical longitudinal section an oil pumphaving associated therewith one form of supercharging device embody ingmy invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view of the oilpump showing more particularly the detachable connection between thepump plunger and the rack bar of the supercharging device.

Fig. 3 is a detailed top plan view showing a part of the detachableconnection between the plunger and rack bar.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the superchargingdevice.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-6 and llrespectively, of Fig. 5.

Referring specifically to Fig. 1, I have here shown a conventional typeof reciprocating pump for use in oil wells. This pump includes a workingbarrel i5 in which works a plunger i6 adapted to be reciprocated bymeans of a sucker rod ll. As best shown in Fig. 2, the plunger lie ishollow and its upper end has threaded therein a seat l3 and a travelingvalve i9. A valve cage 20 secures the sucker rod ii to the valve seat 18and limits the traveling valve E9 in its opening movement, as will beunderstood.

To complete the structure of this reciprocat- M ing pump, a standingvalve must be included, but in the present embodiment of my inventionthe standing valve is incorporated. in my supercharging device, but itis to be understood that it is well within the scope of my invention toassociate the standing valve with the working barrel of the pump in theusual manner and so modify my supercharging device that it is capable ofassociation with a reciprocating pump as to avoid any structuralmodification of the pump itself.

The supercharging device embodying my invention, comprises a body B inthe nature of a box, and this body includes a central and verticallyextending partition 2| (Fig. 4) 0n the upper and lower ends'of which areheads 22 and 23, respectively. Formed integral with the upper head 22 isa connecting collar 24 interiorly screwthreaded to have engagement witha reducing nipple 25. This nipple 25 is. threadedly connected to thelower end of the working barrel of the reciprocating pump by means of acoupling sleeve 26, as best illustrated in Fig.

From a consideration of Figs. e, 5, and '7, it will be seen that thebody 13 of my device is constructed to provide chambers 27 on oppositesides of the partition 2 i, the outer sides of these chambers beingclosed by plates 28 bolted to the body. As shown in Fig. 5, each chamber2'! has an inlet opening 29 through which oil in the well is admitted tothe chamber. Oil is expelled from the chamber through an outlet passage36 controlled by an upwardly opening ball valve 3i having the usual cage32 for limiting opening movement of the ball.

The collar 24 and the reducing nipple 25 coact to provide a continuationof the lower end of the working barrel l5, and form a chamber 33 whichis at all times in communication with the lower end of the plunger 16.However, the chambers 21 of my device are in communication with thechamber 33 only when the valves are open, and hence, it will beunderstood that in association with the reciprocating pump, the valves3| function as standing valves to coact with the traveling valve [9 incontrolling the how of oil to and from the plunger I6 in the usualmanner.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each chamber 21 contains an upper gear 34meshing with a lower gear 35. The two upper gears 34 are mounted on atransverse shaft 36 the ends of which are journaled in the plates 28.This shaft 36 extends through and is rotatable in the partition 2|, andat this point it is formed with an annular series of teeth to provide apinion 31. Adjacent the opposite ends of the shaft 36 ratchet teeth 38are formed thereon to be engaged by spring pressed pawls 39 which coactwith the teeth to lock the gears 34 to the shaft when the latter isrotated in a clockwise direction as when viewed in Fig. 5. It will be ofcourse understood that when the shaft is rotated in the oppositedirection the pawl and ratchet mechanism just described is ineifectiveto secure the gears to the shaft so that the gears remain idle.

The lower gears are rotatable on stub shafts 43 having trunnions 4|journaled in the partition 2| and plates 28, as best shown in Fig. 4. Bymeans of ratchet teeth 42 on the shafts and spring pressed pawls 43 onthe gears 35, the gears 35 are secured to the stub shafts for rotationtherewith only when the gears are rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection, as when viewed in Fig. 5.

As illustrated to advantage in Figs. 6 and '7, the partition 2| isprovided with vertical opening or channel 44 in which a rack bar 45 isslidably received. The teeth of the pinion 37 project into this opening44 to mesh with the teeth of the rack bar 45 so that upon longitudinalmovement of the rack bar rotation of the shaft 36 is effected. Thus itwill be understood that, according as the rack bar is moved in onedirection or the other, the shaft 36 will be rotated in one direction orthe other, and by means of the pawl and ratchet mechanisms connectingthe shaft with the up per gears 34, such gears will be rotated only whenthe rack bar is moved upwardly. Under such rotative movement of theupper gears, the lower gears 35 will be rotated in the oppositedirection by virtue of being in mesh with the respective upper gears.Conversely, when the rack bar 45 is moved downwardly the upper gears 34and, hence, the lower gears 35 remain at rest.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. l, the rack bar 45 extendscompletely through and projects from the lower end of the body B of mydevice, it being necessary to make the rack bar of great length in orderthat it will continue to have engagement with the pinion 3'! when movedby the plunger 16 which is operatively connected to the bar, as will bedescribed hereinafter.

In order to protect that portion of the rack bar which projects from thelower end of the body B, during introduction of the device into a well,as well as during operation of the device in the well, a protectingsleeve or tube 46 is threaded on a. reduced extension 41 of the lowerend of the body 13. Thus, the rack bar is adequately protected againstpossible injury even when fully projected from the body.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the opening 44 is extended laterallythroughout its length to provide a passage 48 provided for the purposeof functioning as a by-pass for oil expelled from between the teeth ofthe rack bar 45 and the teeth of the pinion 31. Yet at the same time,the passage 48 in receiving the oil so expelled, holds the oil in suchrelation to the rack bar as to provide a perfect fluid pack for the barduring its reciprocating movements to eliminate the necessity of havingstuifing boxes.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the rack bar 45 is operatively connectedto the lower end of the plunger I6 so as to be reciprocated with theplunger in effecting operation of the gears 34 and 35. This connectionis a detachable one to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of theplunger and rack bar, and yet permit withdrawal of the rack bar with theplunger should it become necessary to pull the pump plunger from thewell. Upon withdrawalof the rack bar from the body of my device, thechannel 44 and the passage 48 are opened so that that oil in the Workingbarrel as well as the oil in the chamber 33, can flow back into the welland thereby prevent what is called a wet job when pulling the pump.

The connection above referred to is shown in Fig. 2 as comprising acollar 49 arranged at the lower end of the plunger l6 and limited in itsdownward movement by a sleeve 50 threaded in the upper end of thereducing nipple 25. This collar 49 is provided with a three-armed spider5|, as best shown in Fig. 3, and the center of the spider is formed withan opening 52 in which the upper end of the rack bar 45 is threaded.Each arm of the spider receives a bolt 53 having a squared head 54 onwhich is formed a spring slip 55. This slip extends upwardly through anabutment sleeve 56 threaded in the plunger l6 and having an enlarged andinclined upper end 56 which the bill of the slip is adapted to engage.Thus the three slips 55 coact with the abutment sleeve in retaining therack bar connected to the plunger, and yet these two elements can bereadily disconnected when desired by unscrewing. It will be understoodthat when inserting the slips into the sleeve, the inclined bills orheads of the slips all engage the enlarged end 56 and are thus flexedinwardly to return to normal position once the bills pass the upper sideof the enlarged end.

As best shown in Fig. l, the body B of the device is provided with apassage 51 at the upper end of which is a ball valve 58 confined by acage 59. This passage 51 provides communication between the chamber 33and the exterior of the supercharging device, and it is designed for thepurpose of admitting to such chamber, additional oil in the event thedevice for any reason fails to supply sufiicient oil to thereciprocating pump to completely fill the working barrel below thetraveling valve. Oil is caused to flow through the passage 5'! by reasonof the hydrostatic pressure of the column of oil above such passage andexteriorly of the pump and device.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the plunger I6 is in the lower extreme positionof its movement, as illustrated in Fig. 1. With movement of the plungerupwardly from this position, the traveling valve is closes so that theoil above the plunger is lifted within the working barrel. Concurrentlywith such elevation of the plunger the rack bar 45 is moved upward torotate the shaft 36 and thus cause rotation of the gears 34 and 35.Thus, my supercharging device is now actuated to pump oil inwardly ofthe inlets 29, through the chambers 2'! and upwardly of the outwardpassages 30 to open the standing valves 3| and cause oil to flow intothe chamber 33.

The pumping force exerted by the gears 34 and 35 is such as toforcibly'feed or inject suflicient oil into the chamber 33 as tocompletely fill the working barrel and particularly that space thereinbetween the standing valves and the traveling valve. As a consequence ofsuch complete filling of the aforesaid space any gas or air within suchspace or entering the same with the oil so injected, will be forcedupwardly with the oil and above the traveling valve. Thus it will beseen that it is impossible for gas or air to accumulate in the workingbarrel to any appreciable extent, and therefore the traveling andstanding valves will operate as intended to lift and produce acontinuous flow of oil upwardly through the working barrel.

As the plunger l6 descends within the working barrel the traveling valveopens while the standing valves are maintained closed under thehydrostatic pressure of oil imposed thereon. Thus the oil injected intothe working barrel by my device passes upwardly through the plunger andabove the traveling valve. With initial upward movement of the plungerthe traveling valve closes so that that body of oil above the travelingvalve is lifted upwardly within the working barrel.

Concurrently with downward movement of the plunger the rack bar 45 islikewise moved, and although the bar remains in mesh with the pinion 31to rotate the shaft 36, because of the pawl and ratchet mechanisms thegears 34 and 35 remain idle and are thus ineffective to pump the oil.

'.As previously mentioned herein, should the gears 34 and 35 fail topump oil into the working barrel in quantity sufiicient to fill thelatter, for any reason such as injecting a large volume of gas or air,the valve 58 will allow oil exteriorly of the device to flow into thechamber 33 and supply what additional oil is necessary to completelyfill the barrel.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form ofsupercharging device embodying my invention, it is to be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made herein without departingfrom the spirit of my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a reciprocating pump adapted for operation withinawell; a rotary pump adapted for operation within a well; and meansoperatively connecting one pump to the other so that upon operation ofthe reciprocating pump the rotary pump would be actuated to forciblyinject fluid into the reciprocating pump.

2. In combination, a pump having a reciprocable plunger, and a standingvalve below the plunger; a supercharging device below the standingvalve; and an operative connection between said plunger and said devicefor operating the latter only upon upward movement of the plunger.

3. In combination, a pump having a reciprocable plunger, and a standingvalve below the er; a rotary pump; a rack bar for actuating said rotarypump; and a detachable connection between said plunger and said rackbar.

5. In combination, a pump having a reciprocable plunger, and a standingvalve below the plunger; a rotary pump; a rack bar for actuating saidrotary pump; and a detachable connection between said plunger and saidrack bar, comprising a member secured within the plunger, and

spring slips secured to said member.

6. In combination, a pump having a working barrel, a reciprocableplunger therein, and a standing valve below the plunger; a superchargingdevice including a body disposed beneath said standing valve; a rack barsecured to said plunger and extending through said body; meansoperatively connecting said rack bar with said device to forcibly injetfluid into said barrel through said standing valve; and a protectingsleeve secured to said body to cover that portion of said rack barprojecting from said body.

'7. In combination, a reciprocable pump; a second pump; meansoperatively connecting one pump to the other so that operation of thereciprocating pump will eifect operation of said second pump-to forciblyinject fluid into the reciprocating pump; and means for admitting fluidto the reciprocating pump under the hydrostatic pressure of fluidexteriorly of the two pumps.

8. In combination, a reciprocating pump having a working barrel, aplunger, and a standing valve below the plunger; a second pump below thestanding valve and in communication therewith; means operativelyconnecting said plunger to said second pump so that upon movement ofsaid plunger operation of said second pump will be effected to forciblyinject fluid into said barrel; and means for admitting fluid to saidbarrel independently of said standing valve under the hydrostaticpressure of fluid exteriorly of the two pumps.

9. In combination, a reciprocating pump having a working barrel, aplunger, and a standing valve below the plunger; a second pump below thestanding valve and in communication therewith; means operativelyconnecting said plunger to said second pump so that upon movement ofsaid plunger operation of said second pump will be effected to forciblyinject fluid into said barrel; a passage between said pumps foradmitting fluid to said barrel under the hydrostatic pressure of fluidexteriorly of the two pumps; and a valve for preventing discharge offluid outwardly through said passage.

10. In combination, a pump having a working barrel, a reciprocable,valved and hollow plunger, and standing valve below the plunger; arotary pump below the standing valve and comprising a body provided withan opening therethrough, a gear in the body; and a rack secured to theplunger, slidable in said body opening, and meshing with said gear; saidbody having a passage therein communicating and coextensive in lengthwith said opening for allowing liquid expelled from between the teeth ofthe rack bar and gear to pass inwardly or outwardly of the pump body.

CHARLES E. FOX.

